paula thompson art & design studio DESIGN STATEMENT DONBANK WARD GARDEN The designs for the Donbank Ward garden respond to the history of the site and the wider landscape. The aesthetics of the architecture and local heritage have shaped the layout and choice of planting. There is an existing large rabbit population which has destroyed previous planting in the garden and consequently significant research has been completed into plants not usually eaten by rabbits in Scotland. Plants known to be disliked by rabbits will be planted within the current garden layout and will be included in the overall garden design scheme. Two raised planting areas will allow other types of planting to thrive without the threat of destroyal by rabbits. This will also elevate the planting so as to be visible by patients inside the wards and the day room. Furthermore, a selection of plants will be used for height, movement and colour to allow visibility from wards and for those with decreased visual ability. The raised bedding will allow for touch and smell without the need for bending down and will be easy to view, touch and smell by wheelchair users. One raised planting area will have seating to allow outdoor viewing and enjoyment. This option will incorporate a paved area to allow for walking access and wheelchair access. This will create a flow from the ward via the ramp to the planted area. The raised planting area will also connect with the unfinished pathway currently leading nowhere. This will allow for a flow of movement through the seated area and into the rest of the garden. It is hoped that patients and their families / staff carer will enjoy movement around the whole garden, with planting being chosen to assist wayfinding and provide a range of colours and textures. RAISED PLANTERS AND SEATING AREA The design has been inspired by the architecture of the 1930’s hospital building. Scale, proportion and colour have all informed the design. The receding and protruding areas of the hospital elevation are echoed in the design of the raised beds. Differing heights and bedding depths will create variety in the planted areas and allow for a range of species to be planted. Proposed materials are white rendered brick to compliment the white architecture, and walnut stained timber to provide a visual differentiation and soften the overall feel. The choice of paving material will compliment the raised beds.
Transcript
paula thompsonart & design studio
DESIGN STATEMENT
DONBANK WARD GARDEN
The designs for the Donbank Ward garden respond to the history of the site and the wider landscape. The aesthetics of the architecture and local heritage have shaped the layout and choice of planting.
There is an existing large rabbit population which has destroyed previous planting in the garden and consequently significant research has been completed into plants not usually eaten by rabbits in Scotland. Plants known to be disliked by rabbits will be planted within the current garden layout and will be included in the overall garden design scheme. Two raised planting areas will allow other types of planting to thrive without the threat of destroyal by rabbits. This will also elevate the planting so as to be visible by patients inside the wards and the day room. Furthermore, a selection of plants will be used for height, movement and colour to allow visibility from wards and for those with decreased visual ability. The raised bedding will allow for touch and smell without the need for bending down and will be easy to view, touch and smell by wheelchair users.
One raised planting area will have seating to allow outdoor viewing and enjoyment. This option will incorporate a paved area to allow for walking access and wheelchair access. This will create a flow from the ward via the ramp to the planted area. The raised planting area will also connect with the unfinished pathway currently leading nowhere. This will allow for a flow of movement through the seated area and into the rest of the garden. It is hoped that patients and their families / staff carer will enjoy movement around the whole garden, with planting being chosen to assist wayfinding and provide a range of colours and textures.
RAISED PLANTERS AND SEATING AREA
The design has been inspired by the architecture of the 1930’s hospital building. Scale, proportion and colour have all informed the design. The receding and protruding areas of the hospital elevation are echoed in the design of the raised beds. Differing heights and bedding depths will create variety in the planted areas and allow for a range of species to be planted. Proposed materials are white rendered brick to compliment the white architecture, and walnut stained timber to provide a visual differentiation and soften the overall feel. The choice of paving material will compliment the raised beds.
Path to continue into seated area.Planting shown for illustration only.
DONBANK WARD GARDENINVERURIE HOSPITALOCTOBER 2019
PAULA THOMPSON23/1 FORTH STREETEDINBURGHEH1 3LET. 07734 411242e. [email protected]
TYPICAL RAISED BED ELEVATION
TYPICAL RAISED BED PLAN
cemented area cemented area
ward windows ward windows
Existing tree
All sizes proposed only.Final sizes and quantities dependant on costs, TBC.
paved area
existing paving
proposed paved path to link existing path to raised bed area
proposed paved path to link existing path to rampseating
ramp
seating
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600600 700900
600
1800 11501500
timber timberwhite rendered brick
diagrams show linear set in front of ward windows
timber white rendered brick
DESCRIPTIONSeries of raised planters inspired by architecture of the hospital. Proposed materials are white rendered brick to compliment the existing architecture, and stained timber to provide a visual contrast and soften the layout. Planters are a minimum of 600mm high to prevent rabbits from jumping onto them and will be lined with wire mesh to prevent rabbits burrowing upwards.Elevating the planting will enable touch, smell and interaction without bending down and will enable patients in wheelchairs to see the planting at eye level.Di�ering heights will allow for a variety of planting heights as well as focal interest.Planting will be a variety of tall and small perennials and grasses. The taller plants will be seen from within the wards, as well as providing privacy for those sitting within the area. The intention is to create a private comfortable enclosure, a feeling of being nested within nature. Grasses will softly move in the wind and o�er a soothing and restful backdrop to the perennials which will rise up through the seasons.
150
150
150
150
1700
400700
14001200
1800
Wider central (white) planters will allow for a deeper planting set,providing larger spreading area and visual interest.
MISCANTHUS SINENSIS
STIPA TENUISSIMA
UCINA RUBRA
PEACH POPPIES
ORANGE POPPIES
ALLIUM NECTAROSCORDUM SICULUM (12)
SANGUISORBA Joni
FESTUCA GLAUCA
MISCANTHUS SINENSIS
STIPA TENUISSIMA
UCINA RUBRA
PEACH POPPIES
ORANGE POPPIES
ALLIUM NECTAROSCORDUM SICULUM (12)
SANGUISORBA
FESTUCA GLAUCA
SALVIA - slimmer stems
NEPETA - bushier, like lavender
SANGUISORBA TANNASTIPA TENUISSIMA
VERONICASTRUM
SEASONAL BULBS
LOW LEVEL PLANTING
MISCANTHUS SINENSIS
STIPA TENUISSIMA
UCINA RUBRA
SANGUISORBA Joni
FESTUCA GLAUCA
paved area
seating
seating
DONBANK WARD GARDENINVERURIE HOSPITALAUGUST 2019
PAULA THOMPSON23/1 FORTH STREETEDINBURGHEH1 3LET. 07734 411242e. [email protected]
2000
2000
600
470
15001600 1800
1300
1400
1700
TYPICAL RAISED BED PLAN
150
150
150
150
1700
400700
700
700
14001200
1800
DESCRIPTIONSeries of raised planters inspired by architecture of the hospital. Proposed materials are white rendered brick to compliment the existing architecture, and stained timber to provide a visual contrast and soften the layout. Planters are a minimum of 600mm high to prevent rabbits from jumping onto them and will be lined with wire mesh to prevent rabbits burrowing upwards.Elevating the planting will enable touch, smell and interaction without bending down and will enable patients in wheelchairs to see the planting at eye level.Di�ering heights will allow for a variety of planting heights as well as focal interest.Planting will be a variety of tall and small perennials and grasses. The taller plants will be seen from within the wards, as well as providing privacy for those sitting within the area. The intention is to create a private comfortable enclosure, a feeling of being nested within nature. Grasses will softly move in the wind and o�er a soothing and restful backdrop to the perennials which will rise up through the seasons.
Seating - renovation of existing outdoor benches by Inverurie Men Shed. Stained same colour as timber bedding for overall consistency.Paving material and style TBC.
New paving to meet existing paving and provide walkway into the seating / raised bed area.
New paving to meet existing paving and provide walkway into the seating / raised bed area from ramp and wards.
Planting in existing garden
Key areas have been identified for naturalistic planting, using species known to be disliked by rabbits. These include -• the central path to the ward to create a welcoming approach • areas to the sides of the garden to mark the edges of the garden and to be in the sight-line from the
approach to the ward / carpark.
These two areas of planting will have separate plant choices in colour and height to assist wayfinding and to create a ‘journey’ which patients can take with family or staff around the garden and its various paths. The intention is to encourage patients to enjoy the whole garden area and benefit from the positive effects of viewing plants and being outdoors.
All key areas will include varieties of ornamental grasses. The use of grasses has been inspired by the Inverurie Paper Mill (Thomas Tait & Sons Ltd) which used Esparto grass imported from Spain and Africa from 1918-1972 (with the exception of the Second World War) as their main material in the manufacture of paper.
Inclusion of grasses can extend the length of time a planting makes an impact, grasses are often at their peak in the second half of the year, with many still making a contribution into the following spring. There is something soothing and restful about grasses dotted through a planting scheme, either the resonance of repeating soft shapes or the sense of unity created by the heads of those which all face the same way in the breeze. They also provide a backbone to flowers which have less dense foliage, eg allium, poppy, iris.The aspect of the planting would have the added benefit of the grasses being backlit in the morning and during the low winter light when viewed from the seating area and wards. This is especially beautiful with a light frost coating.
OR
Path entrance. 3 planting areas.
Whites, purples, pinks.
Plants for structural interest combined with perennials and bulbs. List below shows proposed plants which will be in bloom at different months of the year. Timeline of plant succession is available. NB plants known to be disliked by rabbits. Total guarantee cannot be given.
Stipa tenuissima Nepeta Dawn to Dusk Veronicastrum
Stipa tenuissima & salvia vertiillata purple rain in winter
Plants for structural interest combined with perennials and bulbs. List below shows proposed plants which will be in bloom at different months of the year. Timeline of plant succession is available. NB plants known to be disliked by rabbits. Total guarantee cannot be given.
California poppy California poppy peach sorbet Papaver rhoeast
Balcony area
Inspired by the local bulb fields (1920’s-1970’s) a planting scheme is intended for the balcony level leading out from the patient day room. In the past, fields of colour filled the local area where bulbs were grown, harvested and exported as far afield as America. Flower pickers were known as ‘Bulbers’ and a great many local people will have had family members who were Bulbers. Daffodils, tulips, irises and gladioli were grown.Root Pouch bags will be planted with bulbs as a reference to the bulbing history. The bags will echo the buckets in the photos below and the bags they were collected in, and will provide colour interest from early to late spring. The intention is to place these on a tiered structure by the wall facing the day room window, so the bags are elevated to a position to be seen from the inside.This is especially important during the colder months when patients will not go outside and the external garden planting will not be flowering yet.
These will contain -
Narcissus ‘Erlicheer’, clusters of soft creamy white double flowers, with a deeper buttery yellow centre creating a mass of beautiful multi-headed blooms (up to 20 per stem). These are highly fragrant, similar to a gardenia, so by placing them at different heights it is hoped that the scent will be appreciated if sitting on the nearby bench (weather permitting). Flowering period - March.
Tulip Mutova, the petals on this triumph tulip are a deep wine red but each has a broad orange edge which turns a pinkish apricot as the slender flowers mature. When seen en masse against the white hospital wall these will provide a dramatic wall of colour when viewed from the day room.Flowering period - April.
To create colour interest through the winter until the spring bulbs emerge winter flowering pansies or cyclamen will be planted in the bags.
Root Pouch bags arranged in a tiered format so as to be visible from Day Room window.
Root Pouches are made out of recycled water bottles and natural fibres preventing plastic from going to landfills and oceans. Root Pouches are very cost-effective way to gain all the benefits of air pruning. Instead of roots circling around the edge of a pot, the roots stop growing when they hit the side of the breathable cloth pot. This encourages new roots to be sent out which fill all the soil between the plant and the fabric pot.
Narcissus ‘Erlicheer’
Pansy solar flare CyclamenPansy moonlight
Tulip Muvota Tulip Muvota
TIERED TO BE SEEN FROM DAY ROOM
Dwarf IrisJan / Feb
Grape hyacinthApril / May
Balcony area cont.
Existing hexagon planters (2no) will be planted with Festuca Intense Blue, a compact ornamental grass with silvery blue-green leaves and short spikes of blue-green midsummer flowers, gradually fading to buff. These will be surrounded with minature bulbs - Dwarf Iris (Reticulata) flowering in January / February, and Grape Hyacinth (Muscari latifolium) flowering in April / May.
